James Veteto has a theory that seeds are a link to the past, connecting one generation to the other, not merely little packets of DNA but also shared human heritage.
Veteto, an assistant professor of anthropology at Western Carolina University, is working to save heirloom seeds.
His project, Southern Seed Legacy, based in Yancey County’s Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies, collects and distributes seeds to share with local farmers, organizing seed swaps as well.
“The idea is that (participants) will grow out a third of the seeds for themselves, give out a third to their neighbors, and send a third back to us,” Veteto said. “So that keeps the seeds circulating when they may not otherwise be.”
Veteto was not raised on a farm, but he rapidly got involved in environmentalism during his college years, leading him to the conclusion that growing his own food was one of the best ways to diminish his ecological footprint. Along the way, he fell in love with the cultural history behind heirloom seeds.
He’s also a fan of the fact that they’re open-pollinated, meaning that heirlooms have a larger genetic basis than professionally bred varieties.
“If you narrow the genetic basis you rely on, you get situations like the famous Irish potato famine,” Veteto said. “There were two varieties that were being grown in Ireland in the early- to mid-19th century. Neither was resistant to the fungal disease late blight, so they were totally wiped out.”
Southern Living recognized Veteto’s efforts by naming him one of “50 People Who are Changing the South in 2015,” calling him an “inspiration to a young generation of farmers.” The publicity has directed more attention to his project. He hopes that his message makes a difference.
“Whatever (the students) end up doing in the future, I hope they can incorporate a little bit of what they have learned working with me to create a better, sustainable, environmentally healthy and socially just world,” he said.
To get involved with Southern Seed Legacy, contact Veteto at jrveteto@wcu.edu.